A GPs view of mass medication

Following this story last week, I am delighted to say that we have a GP writing this week’s note to give an at-the-coal-face insight into this topic.

Dr Joanne McCormack wrote on my blog last year, saying that she was a GP who did not push statins and believed in patients knowing the full risks and benefits before deciding whether it was right for each one of them as an individual to take them or not. Joanne says that she adores her job and that it has been a privilege to work as an NHS GP since November 1990, serving the people of Padgate Medical Centre in Warrington, where she was also a GP Trainer.

Recently, Joanne became a freelance GP, working across various practices, and she set up a website as a simple health information portal as well as a Twitter page exploring LCHF (low carbohydrate, high fat) ways of eating @JoanneReynold14. Her emphasis in practice is in helping people to understand their bodies, their illnesses and the range of options open to them in terms of improving their health to a state of wellness. Rather than just sending people out with a prescription, she discusses other forms of help for example Mindfulness, Hypnotherapy, Pilates, Physiotherapy, nutritional change and support groups for alcohol and drugs to name a few. These are accessed on a local basis, and also via the Internet, whether that results in a book or eBook, or an online course, or meeting. She also works as the Named GP for Safeguarding Children for her local area.

Here’s Joanne’s view in her own words…

 

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